[FEATURE] User-Specified Google Maps API Key

[+bitmapped]

As a possible solution to the Google Maps cost issue, let users who want to use Google Maps provide their own API key. Users who didn't specify an API key would get OSM/Mapquest as in the new 2/14/2012 version of the site. Those who provided a key would get Google Maps with the map visits being counted against their own personal API key rather than Geocaching.com's key. This would shift the cost burden away from Groundspeak and on to individual users. Since Google provides 25,000 visits/day, the only actual cost to end users would be in initially registering for the key.

 

The new OSM/Mapquest/MyTopo solution is vastly inferior to what we had with Google Maps. It looks like this work-around meets Google's terms and would let users get back the quality maps they were used to having.

[+ATXTracker]

I like this idea, if the licensing allows for it. Does anyone know if fragmenting the API keys by user, or country, or something could be a loophole to allow a greater volume of requests without costing big bucks?

[+macca21]

if im in the right place, registering a maps api key is free until you blow the 25,000 limit. correct me if im wrong, but just force users who want to use google maps to enter their own API for the maps to load

[+bitmapped]

if im in the right place, registering a maps api key is free until you blow the 25,000 limit. correct me if im wrong, but just force users who want to use google maps to enter their own API for the maps to load

That's my understanding of how the API keys work. Like you said, this would be an obvious solution for users who want to use Google Maps.